Ukraine’s air force said Tuesday it had destroyed a Russian warship in the Black Sea suspected of carrying Iranian drones used by Moscow in the conflict with Kiev.
“The Novocherkassk large landing ship” was destroyed by air force pilots, the air force said on the social network Telegram.
“It is said to be carrying Shaheds,” Iranian explosive drones widely used by Russia against Ukraine, he added.
The military did not specify the location of the attack, but Air Force Commander Mykola Olechchuk broadcast a video showing an explosion and flames at the Russian naval base of Feodossia, located on the Black Sea in occupied Crimea.
The Russian landing ship Novocherkassk was destroyed this evening in Feodosia.
Ukrainian pilots have done an excellent job.
Crimea is Ukraine. There is no room here for the occupying forces’ fleet. pic.twitter.com/rXphvmMBFM
– Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 26, 2023
The head of the “Republic of Crimea”, Sergei Aksionov, confirmed the occurrence of an attack in the port of Feodossia, indicating that one person was killed and two others were injured.
“An enemy attack was carried out in the Feodossia sector. The port area was isolated,” the Russian official said on Telegram, assuring that “the explosion has stopped” and that “the fire is under control.”
“Unfortunately, one person was killed and two others were injured in an enemy attack in Feodosia,” Aksionov wrote on Telegram.
The governor added that six buildings were damaged and residents were evacuated.
“The transport infrastructure is functioning normally,” he assured.
Aksionov did not specify the nature of the damage, but emphasized that “the residents of several houses” had to be “evacuated.”
The landing ship “Novocherkassk” burned out in Crimea
The Russian Ministry of Defense has admitted that their landing ship was ‘damaged’. They write that it apparently repelled an attack from the AFU’s air-guided missiles. And even shot down Ukrainian planes.
Meanwhile, Gauleiter… pic.twitter.com/diWTyMr3wT
– NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 26, 2023
The home port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is in Sevastopol, about 190 kilometers from Feodosia.
According to Russian media, several Russian ships are currently also in the city’s port.
Ukraine regularly carries out attacks on Crimea, mainly targeting Russian military installations. In April 2022, the cruiser Moskva, the Russian ship of the Black Sea Fleet, sank.
Source: DN
